Gnome Trickery Domain Cleric Build Guide
Combining natural gnomish cunning with the illusions of the Trickery Domain makes you a master of battlefield deception and magical control.
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Why Trickery Domain?
The Gnome Trickery Domain Cleric is a fantastic choice for players who want to control the battlefield through illusion and distraction rather than raw, destructive power. While traditional Clerics stand on the front lines, your job is to manipulate your enemies' minds. By using Invoke Duplicity, you can create a perfect illusory double of yourself, allowing you to cast spells from a safe distance while keeping foes guessing which version of you is real.
This playstyle requires you to stay out of harm's way, which is where your Gnome traits shine. If an enemy spellcaster tries to disrupt your illusions with a mental attack, your Gnomish Cunning provides advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws, keeping your mind sharp and your concentration unbroken. Additionally, having Darkvision ensures you can scout ahead in pitch-black dungeons without giving away your position with a bright torch, perfectly aligning with your stealthy, trickster theme.
Trickery Domain Features
Blessing of the Trickster
Level 3As an action by magic, you can choose yourself or a willing creature within 30 feet of you. For 1 minute, whenever the target makes an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, the target can roll a d4 and add the result to the roll.
Invoke Duplicity
Level 3As a Bonus Action, you can expend one use of your Channel Divinity to create an illusory duplicate of yourself within 30 feet of you. This duplicate lasts for 1 minute, and you can use your action to move it up to 30 feet. When you or the duplicate is seen by a creature, the creature can't distinguish you from the duplicate.
Trickery Domain Spells
Level 3Your connection to this divine domain ensures that you always have certain spells prepared.
Trickster's Transposition
Level 6Each time you take a Bonus Action to move your Invoke Duplicity duplicate, you can swap places with it as part of that action.
Improved Duplicity
Level 17The illusion of your Invoke Duplicity has become more powerful in the following ways. You can create a second illusory duplicate. You maintain both duplicates simultaneously.
Recommended Ability Scores
Gnome Traits That Benefit Trickery Domain Cleric
Gnomish Cunning
Extra saving throw advantages protect against debilitating spells and effects.
Darkvision
Gnome Darkvision helps Clerics scout ahead and fight in darkness without needing a torch.
Combat Effectiveness
| Level | HP | Melee DPR | Spell DPR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 | 33 | 3.9 | 7.8 |
| Level 11 | 69 | 3.58 | 10.18 |
| Level 17 | 105 | 3.58 | 13.2 |
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Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ♦ Trickery Domain grants Blessing of the Trickster at level 3
- ♦ Darkvision for dungeon exploration
- ♦ Versatile spellcasting options
Weaknesses
- ♦ Low Dexterity means poor initiative and AC
- ♦ May require careful feat selection to optimize
Pro Tips
Use Blessing of the Trickster on your clunky, plate-wearing allies to help the whole party sneak past guards successfully.
Position your Invoke Duplicity illusion in melee range of enemies so you can safely cast touch-range control spells from afar.
Rely on your Darkvision to scout ahead in the dark, keeping your sneaky, illusion-based strategies hidden from unsuspecting foes.
If an enemy corners you, use Trickster's Transposition to instantly swap places with your double and escape danger.
Other Cleric Subclasses for Gnome
Other Races for Trickery Domain Cleric
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trickery Domain a good subclass for Gnome Cleric?
What makes Trickery Domain different from other Cleric subclasses?
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